Second Chance Relief Fund for Rot

Dear Friends, 

With abundant community support, on September 8th, 2020 Rot Mythong--a Laotian-Cambodian refugee--was released from ICE detainment. He is the first individual public campaign launched in Long Beach for a Southeast Asian in over a decade. Rot was granted bail by a federal judge and officially reunited with his family the following day.  

Rot now needs our financial support in his transition back to our community. After serving 29 years in prison and surviving ICE detention, he is now reintroduced to the world battling a global pandemic and a State battling natural disasters. Rot has been fighting from the inside all of his life, and now he is with us. It is now our turn to show him how powerful community support truly is. He wants to tell his story and give support to those who might be going through what he went through. Rot has shared his wisdom with our youth members while detained in ICE through letter writing and is an example of transformation. Our goal is to demonstrate how community support and collective efforts contribute to a healthier and safer world. We must not allow the system to fail Rot again, in fact it is our duty to show the system the power of our people.

Help the Long Beach Southeast Asian Anti-Deportation Collective fundraise for Rot's transition back into our community by donating to our Second Chance Relief Fund. Funds for Rot will be used to help him transition back into society which include: 

-Basic needs related to medical, food, clothing, and transportation  
-Digital and tech needs for cell phone, service, or a computer
-Relocation needs when he decides to transition elsewhere 
-Financial resources for Rot as he builds socio-economic stability
-Additional support for resources that Rot determines necessary

Rot is a Laotian-Cambodian refugee who escaped from the Cambodian genocide as a child. His family resettled in Long Beach, CA and most of his family still currently resides there. Growing up during the resettlement period, his family encountered cultural, financial, and emotional challenges adjusting to the new country. As a result, his home life was turbulent. Rot sought acceptance and belonging through his friends. His friend group became his chosen family and his gang. At 16, Rot and his friend were confronted by another man from the neighborhood, the man told his group to leave immediately. The situation escalated as Rot felt challenged and threatened by this. He retrieved his gun and decided to shoot the man. Rot was tried as an adult at 16 and where he was eventually charged with a felony conviction and sentenced at 17. At the time, Rot only knew how to respond to situations with violence and aggression because he faced discrimination, poverty, and isolation as a refugee in the U.S. 

He served 29 years in prison and has spent all of his adult life incarcerated. His partner at the time was pregnant with their daughter, Ashley. He dedicated himself to self-help programs to turn his life around, in hopes of reuniting with his family upon his release from prison. Rot was granted parole in February 2020 for demonstrating leadership and behavior change, but instead of being able to go home, Rot was transferred to the Adelanto ICE facility. Despite being denied bond by the immigration judge, Rot persevered and decided to file a bail application with a federal judge. After a review of all his documents and letters of support, Rot was granted release. 

Rot with his daughter Ashley and granddaughter Jasmin

This was a 7-month battle and Rot is no longer incarcerated and can fight his deportation order on the outside. Rot is not truly free from possible deportation until we push for a pardon! However, we want to celebrate this moment and help Rot get back on his feet! Please consider donating as all proceeds will go directly to Rot.
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The Long Beach Southeast Asian Anti-Deportation Collective is a volunteer-based collective that was formed to stop the deportations of Southeast Asians and reunite Long Beach families impacted by deportations.  We continue to uplift those who are most directly impacted by family separation and sincerely thank you for your efforts.